Russian troops resort to Vietnamese-style traps amid supply issues
The Russians are employing increasingly rudimentary combat techniques. One such method involves basic but somewhat efficient anti-personnel traps, reminiscent of the notorious Viet Cong traps based on punji sticks. We will explain what they are and how they compare to contemporary solutions.
A photo has surfaced online showing a collection of traps assembled by the Russians, clearly influenced by Viet Cong tactics from the Vietnam War period. In the image below, you can see traps akin to snares constructed from boxes, which only need to be buried. The primary difference is using nails welded with a MIG welder instead of the carved bamboo sticks (punji sticks) known from the Vietnamese originals.
The trap consists of boards studded with nails, which, when stepped on correctly, are meant to rise from the ground and close, driving the nails into the leg above the boot, thus hindering the soldier. The wounds are non-lethal if medical assistance is received but will effectively render one less rifle for the attacking group.
In another photo, you can see dug-out pits with grates, which most likely serve to "discipline" Russian soldiers refusing to participate in infantry charges, also referred to as "meat assaults." It is also possible that the pits are used to detain prisoners if any have been captured.
Vietnamese-style traps vs. modern solutions
This is a very primitive method, suggesting that the Russian unit lacks modern solutions to secure the area, such as MON-50 directional mines or similar devices.
Nowadays, these modern mines are crucial for safeguarding paths against enemy movement. Depending on their type, these mines can be equipped with proximity fuses or can be detonated by pulling a pre-stretched wire attached, for instance, to a nearby tree.
They also offer substantial destructive power, typically creating a literal "wall of shrapnel" with an effective range of approximately 50 metres at the moment of detonation, which can, for example, hit an entire assault group. Vietnamese-style traps, which were only recently seen in museums, cannot achieve this level of effectiveness.
